Crucible holder



Jan. 9, 1923. 1,441,340

M. W. GOLDBERG. CRUCIBLE HOLDER. FILED MAY 22. I920.

Patented Jan. 9, 1925.

CRUCIBLE HOLDER.

Application filed May 22,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, MAX YV. GOLDBERG, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Crucible Holders, of which the following is a description reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in crucible holders.

In the foundry art, it is the present practice to melt the softer metals, such as brass, copper, etc., in crucibles, and then carry the crucibles to the molds into which the molten metal is to be poured. Several men are usually required to accomplish this work, and in the handling of the crucibles it is necessary to exercise extreme care, as the crucibles, which are usually formedof clay or plumbago become softened when subjected to the intense heat necessary to melt the metal, and may be easily crushed or distorted sufficiently .to slip out of the holding tongs or clamps.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to overcome the before mentioned objectionable features and provide acrucible holder having im proved means for grasping and holding the crucible in a manner to prevent the accidental dropping or breaking thereof.

A further object of the invention is to .provide a crucible holder in Which'the holding members or clamps yieldingly. engage the side portions of a crucible or other container while a supplemental holding member directly engages the lower port-ion er the crucible and positively holds the same in position.

A further object of the invention isito provide a crucible holder in which improved means are provided for counterweighting and raising and lowering the'crucible and for tilting the crucible in discharging the contents thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a crucible holder which is of simple construction is strong and durable and is well adapted for the purpose described.

With the above and other objects inview,

' the invention consists of the improved crucible holder and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which 1920. Serial N0.'383,505.

Fig. 2 is a sectionaldetail vie\v :taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; W T

Fig. 3 isa sectional detail view taken on line 33 of 2, on a larger scale, of the rack and dog means for holding the load in adjusted position; .c A Fig. lisa detail view of thecrucible clamping means; and 1 :Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the crucible and its support before being engaged by the holder. 7 Referring to the drawing, the numeral "5 indicates a track or other support upon which the crucible holder carriage 6, is mounted and travels. The crucible holder 7 which is supported from the carriagefcomprises a depending bar 8 which is secured to a swiveled hookportion 6 depending from the carriage. The bar' extends into the flattened upper endportion of the tubular member 9 and said bar and inen her are providedavith transverse openings 10 to receive bolts 11 to adjustably connect theparts together-. Mounted upon one side of the tubular supporting member 9 is a rack bar 12 rigidly secured thereto by .upper and lower collars 13 and 14: andhaving itsrack teeth 12 projecting outwardly and upwardly therefrom. An inverted :U-shape crucible frame lt) is formed with an open ing 15 through which the tubular member 9 extends and serves as a supportth'erefor. A transversevbrace bar 16:.secured to the lower portions'of the U-shaped frame 15 is provided medially of its length with an upstanding guide member 17 which freely, slidably extends into the lower open end of the tubular supporting member 9 and maintains the crucible frame inv alinement with the tubular member. To reduce friction the frame 15, in its opening 15, is provided with a grooved wheel 18 which bears against one side of the tubular member, and said frame opening is also provided with a pair of rollers 19 which bear against edge bearing portions 20 oft-he rack bar l2'mounted on the opposite side'of the tubular member to that engaged by the grooved wheel 18.

Fulcrumed on the roller bearingpin 21 between the rollers 19 is a lever pawl or dog 22 which'extends inwardly and engages the teeth of the rack bar and holds the frame 15 in adjusted position on the tubular member 9. The outer portion 22 of the lever pawl extends outwardly and downwardly along the outer edge of the frame and forms a gravity weight forholding the pawl yieldingly in engagement with the rack teeth. Said outer portion 22 also serves as a handle for releasing the pawl from the rack when it is desired to lower the crucible holding frame.

Two links 23 and 24 positioned on opposite sides of the frame 15 and pivotally connected at their upper ends to bearing pins 21, and '25 respectively, depend downwardly, outwardly therefrom and at their lower end portions are adjustably pivotally connected to the upper ends of upwardly and outwardly extending levers 26 and 27 which are respectively located on opposite sides of the frame 15 and medially fulcrumed on a pivot pin 28 extending through the collar 14 The links 23 and 24 and the levers 26 the fixed semi-circular portion.

and 27 form a double toggle joint connection between the tubular supporting member9 and the upper end portion of'the frame 15. The lower portion 27 of the lever 27 provides for raising the frame on the tubular member 9 by pressing downwardly on the lever portion to straighten the toggle links, the gravity pawl snapping by the rack teeth as the frame is moved upwardly and holding the frame in adjusted'position. In lowering the frame it is only necessary for the operator to raise the frame slightly by pressing on the lever then release the pawl and then gradually raising the lever until the desired adjustment has been reached.

In order to lessen the work of raising the frame and its load the lever 26 is extended downwardly and outwardly from its fulcrum and is provided with a counterweight 29 adjustably mounted on said lever to counterbalance the load on the upper end of said lever.

The lower end portions ofthe frame 15 are formed with bearings 30 to receive the trunnions 31 and 32 of the crucible clamping member 33. Collars 34 are mounted on the trunnions adjacent the inner edge portions of the frame to prevent endwise movement of the trunnions.

The clamping member 33 is formed of one semi-circular 'fixed jaw portion 34 to which the trunnions 31 and 32 are rigidly connected, and a semi-circular movable jaw portion 35 pivotally connected at one end to The two semi-circular portions form a means for clamping the crucible 36 therebetween. The free end portion of the movable member is connected to the fixed member by a pair of toggle links 37 the connected-together ends of which are pivotally mounted on the downturne d end of a controlling rod 38. The trunnion 31 extends outwardly a considerable distance and has mounted on its outer end a segmental rack member 39 which carries an operating lever 40 provided with a dog41 which engages the teeth of the segmental rack member. The outer end of the rod 38 is connected to the operating lever 40 by a universal joint 42 and said rod is moved by the lever to open and close the jaws 34 and 35 to engage and disengage the crucible.

The rod 38 is in two parts jointed together by a cushion cylinder 43 to eliminate'undue strain on the crucible.

The crucible clamping member 33 is also. provided wit-h means for positively holding the crucible in position and consists of a bell crank supporting lever 44 which is fulcrumed on the fixed member 34 and its upper end portion 44 is bifurcated and straddles the rod '38 and a trunnion member 45 mounted thereon. The trunnion portions of said member 45 extend through the slots 46 (only. one being shown) of the bell crank lever so that when the rod is reciprocated the lever will be rocked on its fulcrum. The lower end portion 47 of said bell crank lever is adapted to swing beneath the crucible and the crucible to rest thereon, when the clamping jaws are in closed position. When in open position the bell crank portion 47 is outside of the vertical plane of the crucible opening of the clamping members to permit the crucible holder to be raised or lowered to disengage or engage the crucible.

As the controlling rod 38 and the bell crank lever 44 are positioned on one side of the frame 15, the crucible can be easily tipped to pour out the molten metal by swinging the controlling lever 40 laterally.

In order to permit the crucible holder 7 to easily engage and disengage the crucible 36 a floor supporting frame 48 is provided which consists of a split ring 49 supported upon depending legs 50. The ring 49 isof less diameter than the larger diameter of the crucible to support the crucible and the legs 50 are of sufiicient length to hold the bottom portion of the crucible elevated above the floor so that the lower end portion of the bell crank lever 47 can be swung vtherebeneath. In raising the crucible from the floor support the bell crank lever passes through the space 49 between the split ends of the rings.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the crucible holder is of very simple construction and is well adapted for the purpose described.

What Iclaim as my invention is:

1. A crucible holder, comprisinga supporting member, a crucible carrying frame slidably mounted thereon means for raising and lowering said frame on the support, means for holding said frame on the support, means for holding said frame in adjusted position on the supporting member, and means mounted on the crucible carrying frame and removably extending beneath the crucible for positively supporting the crucible carried thereby.

2. A crucible holder, comprising a supporting member, a crucible carrying frame slidably mounted thereon, means for raising and lowering said frame on the support, meansfor holding said frame in adjusted position on the supporting member, and a bell crank lever fulcrumed on the crucible carrying frame and movable to a position to engage the under surface of the crucible carried by the crucible carrying frame.

3. A crucible holder comprising a supporting member, a crucible carrying frame slidably mounted thereon and having a crucible clamping means, means for raising and lowering said frame on the support, means for holding said frame in adjusted position on the supporting member, and a bell crank lever fulcrumed on the crucible carrying frame and movable by the clamping means to a position to engagethe under surface of the crucible carried by the crucible carrying frame.

4. A crucible holder, comprising a supporting member having a rack portion, a crucible carrying frame slidably mounted thereon, clamping jaws carried by the frame, a lever for operating said jaws and tilting the frame, means for raising and lowering the crucible carrying frame, means co-acting with the rack portion. for holding the frame in adjusted position, and a bell crank lever fulcrumed on the crucible carrying frame and movable by the lever to a position to engage the lower portion of the crucible carried by the crucible carrying frame.

5. A crucible holder, comprising a supporting member having a rack portion, a crucible carrying frame slidably mounted thereon, clamping jaws carried by the frame, a lever for operating said jaws and tilting the frame, means for raising and lowering the crucible carrying frame, a lever pawl co-acting with the rack portion-for holding the frame in adjusted position, and a bell crank lever fulcrumed on the crucible carrying frame and movableby the lever to a position to engage the lower portion of the crucible carried by the crucible carrying frame.

6. A crucible holder, comprising a tubular supporting member having a rack portion, a crucible carrying frame slidably mounted thereon and having a guiding portion which enters the tubular supporting member, a toggle joint lever connected to the tubular member and the carrying frame for raising or lowering said fame on the supporting member, a lever pawl fulcrumed on the frame and engaging the rack for holding the frame in adjusted position, a tiltable frame j ournaled in the lower portion of the carrying frame and having crucible clamping jaws, a lever controlling the movement of said jaws, and a bell crank lever fulcrumed on the tiltable frame and movable by said lever to a position to engage the lower portion of the crucible engaged by the clamping jaws.

7. A crucible holder, comprising a portable tubular supporting member having a rack portion, a crucible carrying frame vertically adjustably mounted thereon and having a vertically extending guiding portion which enters the tubular supporting mem her, a pair of toggle oint levers connected to the tubular member and the carrying frame for raising and lowering said frame on the supporting member, one of said levers having a counterweight, a lever pawl fulcrumed on the frame and engaging the rack for holds ing the frame in adjusted position, a tiltable frame journaled in the lower portion of the carrying frame and having crucible carrying jaws, a lever carried by the tiltable frame for operating'the jaws and tilting said frame, and a bell crank lever fulcrumed on the tiltable frame and movable by said lever to a position to engage the lower portionof the crucible engaged by the clamping aws.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

MAX GOLDBERG. 

